Skip to content

IOPC investigates death in Kent Police custody

Factual summary of a published IOPC investigation, covering the incident, key findings and outcome.

All IOPC reports
Published
2021-07-29
Investigation type
independent
Force involved
Kent Police

What was investigated

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the death of a 43-year-old woman in police custody in Tonbridge, Kent. The woman was arrested by officers and found unresponsive in her cell, later pronounced dead at the scene.

Key findings

  • The woman was arrested shortly before 8pm on Friday, 23 July.
  • She appeared to have trouble breathing around 1pm on Saturday, 24 July.
  • Paramedics were called but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
  • Investigators were sent to the post incident procedures and custody suite.
  • Officers involved provided initial accounts of the incident.
  • CCTV and custody records will be examined as part of the investigation.
  • The coroner has been informed and a post-mortem examination was inconclusive.

Outcome

The investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances of her death.

Read the full report on policeconduct.gov.uk

Related on BlueLineHub

Reviewed by the BlueLineHub Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 14 July 2026 · Next review due: 14 January 2027

This is a factual summary of a report published by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Individuals are referred to exactly as the source report anonymises them. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the IOPC · Summarised 2026-07-14.